This latest England team is a stumpy. It’s not completely without tail – there’s an Anderson-shaped nub there – but there really isn’t much. Presumably, should he return, Ben Stokes would replace Liam Plunkett, which would only strengthen the main spine further.

Lower order batsmen rarely contribute on tougher days – when runs are more valuable – but they can definitely make the difference between decent scores and intimidating ones.

But if there’s any side unlikely to succumb to that modern panacea, scoreboard pressure, it’s Sri Lanka. They play most of their cricket in Colombo and have therefore been tempered to withstand far greater run pressure than any other team.

To Sri Lanka 575-9 is nothing to write home about. Whereas to most of us, anything over 500 is simply ‘loads’, the Sri Lankans probably distinguish between a 575 pitch and a 650 pitch. We’re not sure which they think this is.

No, that’s the word we meant to use. Captains and coaches often talk about scoreboard pressure as if it’s a remedy for everything. We know that scoring lots of runs is a large part of the game, but its spoken of as if it dismisses a team as well.

More bizarrely defensive captaincy from Cook, but at least he is letting Ballance have a chance to get a century. That’s what we want from an England captain – looking after the chaps in a nice way irrespective of the effect on the match. That’s presumably what Giles Clarke meant when he said he’s the right sort. Marvellous stuff.

Yup, couldn’t really understand why he didn’t declare and have a few overs at the Lankans tonight.

Only three possibilities, none of which reflect well on Cook’s judgment as captain.

1) Bert’s “let a fellow get a century” theory;
2) Cook got so nervous when England wobbled earlier in the day, he was unable to adjust his mind set later in the day when the ship had been steadied;
3) Fear of a “Middlesex v Yorkshire” denouement…-

…a Lord’s match fresh in the minds of several of the England players. But, vitally, that CC pitch was several strips further up the hill, where they tend to just get flatter and flatter. Also importantly, Middlesex scored all those runs on Day Three, concluding half way through Day Four. That is manifestly not the last few overs on Day Four and the whole of Day Five.

England still have a decent chance of bowling Sri Lanka out, but Sri Lanka have a better chance of achieving a draw now.

But I don’t come from the right sort of family, so what the heck do I know?